לֹֽא־תַעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you set up a graven image or a pillar for yourselves, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am YHWH your God.
Morphology
- לֹֽא־תַעֲשׂ֨וּ (lo-ta’asu) – Root: עשה (ʿ-s-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You shall not make”; Notes: Prohibition against creating idols.
- לָכֶ֜ם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (l-k-m); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “For yourselves”; Notes: Emphasizes personal responsibility.
- אֱלִילִ֗ם (elilim) – Root: אלל (ʾ-l-l); Form: Masculine plural noun; Translation: “Idols”; Notes: Refers to objects of worship made by humans.
- וּפֶ֤סֶל (ufesel) – Root: פסל (p-s-l); Form: Conjunction ו with masculine singular noun; Translation: “And a graven image”; Notes: Refers to carved statues used in worship.
- וּמַצֵּבָה֙ (umatzevah) – Root: נצב (n-ts-b); Form: Conjunction ו with feminine singular noun; Translation: “And a pillar”; Notes: Represents standing stones often used in idolatry.
- לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ (lo-taqimu) – Root: קום (q-w-m); Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You shall not set up”; Notes: Prohibits erecting such objects.
- לָכֶ֔ם (lakhem) – Root: לכם (l-k-m); Form: Preposition with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “For yourselves”; Notes: Repeats personal prohibition.
- וְאֶ֣בֶן (v’even) – Root: אבן (ʾ-b-n); Form: Conjunction ו with feminine singular noun; Translation: “And a stone”; Notes: Indicates a specific type of object.
- מַשְׂכִּ֗ית (maskit) – Root: שכה (s-k-h); Form: Feminine singular noun; Translation: “Figured stone”; Notes: Refers to an engraved or decorative stone.
- לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ (lo-titt’nu) – Root: נתן (n-t-n); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “You shall not place”; Notes: Prohibits placing it in the land.
- בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם (b’eretzkhem) – Root: ארץ (ʾ-r-ts); Form: Preposition ב with feminine singular noun and 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “In your land”; Notes: Specifies the location.
- לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֖ת (l’hishtachavot) – Root: שחה (sh-ḥ-h); Form: Infinitive construct with preposition ל; Translation: “To bow down”; Notes: Indicates the intended purpose of the act.
- עָלֶ֑יהָ (aleha) – Root: על (ʿ-l); Form: Preposition with 3rd person feminine singular suffix; Translation: “To it”; Notes: Refers back to the figured stone.
- כִּ֛י (ki) – Root: כי (k-y); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “For”; Notes: Introduces the reason for the command.
- אֲנִ֥י (ani) – Root: אנ (ʾ-n); Form: Pronoun 1st person singular; Translation: “I”; Notes: Refers to YHWH.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (y-h-w-h); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The divine name.
- אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (Eloheikhem) – Root: אלה (ʾ-l-h); Form: Masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Your God”; Notes: Declares the relationship between YHWH and Yisra’el.